Noach - Day #6

Noach נֹחַ - Rest  

Torah Portion: Genesis 6:9-11:32

         

Genesis 9:18–10:32

9:18 The sons of Noah who went out from the ship were Shem, Ham, and Japheth. Ham is the father of Canaan. 19 These three were the sons of Noah, and from these the whole earth was populated.

20 Noah began to be a farmer and planted a vineyard. 21 He drank the wine and got drunk. He was uncovered within his tent. 22 Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father and told his two brothers outside. 23 Shem and Japheth took a garment, and laid it on both their shoulders, went in backwards, and covered the nakedness of their father. Their faces were backwards, and they didn’t see their father’s nakedness. 24 Noah awoke from his wine and knew what his youngest son had done to him. 25 He said,

“Canaan is cursed. He will be a servant of servants to his brothers.”

26 He said, “Blessed be Hashem, the Elohim of Shem. Let Canaan be his servant. 27 May Elohim enlarge Japheth. Let him dwell in the tents of Shem. Let Canaan be his servant.”

28 Noah lived three hundred fifty years after the flood. 29 All the days of Noah were nine hundred fifty years, and then he died.

10 Now this is the history of the generations of the sons of Noah and of Shem, Ham, and Japheth. Sons were born to them after the flood.

2 The sons of Japheth were: Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech, and Tiras. 3 The sons of Gomer were: Ashkenaz, Riphath, and Togarmah. 4 The sons of Javan were: Elishah, Tarshish, Kittim, and Dodanim. 5 Of these were the islands of the nations divided in their lands, everyone after his language, after their families, in their nations.

6 The sons of Ham were: Cush, Mizraim, Put, and Canaan. 7 The sons of Cush were: Seba, Havilah, Sabtah, Raamah, and Sabteca. The sons of Raamah were: Sheba and Dedan. 8 Cush became the father of Nimrod. He began to be a mighty one in the earth. 9 He was a mighty hunter before Hashem. Therefore, it is said, “like Nimrod, a mighty hunter before Hashem”. 10 The beginning of his kingdom was Babel, Erech, Accad, and Calneh, in the land of Shinar. 11 Out of that land he went into Assyria, and built Nineveh, Rehoboth Ir, Calah, 12 and Resen between Nineveh and the great city Calah. 13 Mizraim became the father of Ludim, Anamim, Lehabim, Naphtuhim, 14 Pathrusim, Casluhim (which the Philistines descended from), and Caphtorim.

15 Canaan became the father of Sidon (his firstborn), Heth, 16 the Jebusites, the Amorites, the Girgashites, 17 the Hivites, the Arkites, the Sinites, 18 the Arvadites, the Zemarites, and the Hamathites. Afterward, the families of the Canaanites were spread abroad. 19 The border of the Canaanites was from Sidon—as you go toward Gerar—to Gaza—as you go toward Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboiim—to Lasha. 20 These are the sons of Ham, after their families, according to their languages, in their lands and their nations.

21 Children were also born to Shem (the elder brother of Japheth), the father of all the children of Eber. 22 The sons of Shem were: Elam, Asshur, Arpachshad, Lud, and Aram. 23 The sons of Aram were: Uz, Hul, Gether, and Mash. 24 Arpachshad became the father of Shelah. Shelah became the father of Eber. 25 To Eber were born two sons. The name of the one was Peleg, for in his days the earth was divided. His brother’s name was Joktan. 26 Joktan became the father of Almodad, Sheleph, 

Hazarmaveth, Jerah, 27 Hadoram, Uzal, Diklah, 28 Obal, Abimael, Sheba, 29 Ophir, Havilah, and Jobab. All these were the sons of Joktan. 30 Their dwelling extended from Mesha, as you go toward Sephar, the mountain of the east. 31 These are the sons of Shem, by their families, according to their languages, lands, and nations.

32 These are the families of the sons of Noah, by their generations, according to their nations. The nations divided from these in the earth after the flood.

Today’s Meditation:

The start of a new world. Hashem literally erases the face of the earth except for this small family. Eight adults survive a catastrophic event. And eight are left to repopulate the world. Because Noah was righteous, one would assume his sons were also. And maybe they were. But what about their three wives? 

I had the thought that maybe the wives were not descendants of Adam, but instead of the “sons of man,” or of the generations of people first created in Genesis Chapter 1. I realize there isn’t much support for the idea that this could be true —that a generation of people existed before Adam and Eve were created. But to me, it makes sense that Hashem could have created man and woman, only they became disobedient and rebellious. So, He created special people—Adam and Eve—and the Garden of Eden.   

Whatever happened, could it be that the wives of the sons of Noah were not righteous? If they were not, that might explain how the earth became corrupt again so quickly. Perhaps Hashem believed they would change in the presence and teachings of Noah. It's so sad that we are given a new start and still fail. Once again. Praise Hashem, He is forgiving and full of grace.

Today’s Challenge:

Has Hashem ever given you a new start in life? A new job, or a new city to start over in? Only when you get a new start do you find yourself falling back into your old self, with its not-so-good habits? I challenge you to think of every day as a new start. When you wake up in the morning, greet Hashem. Tell Him you are thankful for today, that you love Him, and that you will try your best today to follow Him. Soon, you will make this a habit.

Noach - Day #5

Noach נֹחַ - Rest  

Torah Portion: Genesis 6:9-11:32

Genesis 9:8–17

9:8 Elohim spoke to Noah and to his sons with him, saying, 9 “As for me, behold, I establish my covenant with you, and with your offspring after you, 10 and with every living creature that is with you: the birds, the livestock, and every animal of the earth with you, of all that go out of the ship, even every animal of the earth. 11 I will establish my covenant with you: All flesh will not be cut off any more by the waters of the flood. There will never again be a flood to destroy the earth.” 12 Elohim said, “This is the token of the covenant which I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations: 13 I set my rainbow in the cloud, and it will be a sign of a covenant between me and the earth. 14 When I bring a cloud over the earth, that the rainbow will be seen in the cloud, 15 I will remember my covenant, which is between Me and you and every living creature of all flesh, and the waters will no more become a flood to destroy all flesh. 16 The rainbow will be in the cloud. I will look at it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant between Elohim and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth.” 17 Elohim said to Noah, “This is the token of the covenant which I have established between me and all flesh that is on the earth.”

Today’s Meditation: 

A covenant with Hashem is a sacred agreement. He will never break it. This covenant He makes with Noah and “every living creature of all flesh” is never to flood the earth again, never. It is said by many that this is the first formal covenant between Hashem and man. There are approximately six covenants that follow later.

A rainbow is a sign of Hashem’s promise to His creation. Various groups of people can use it at different times to mean other things, but the true Biblical and authentic meaning is a sign of Hashem’s eternal promise never to flood the earth.

When my husband and I, along with our daughters, were praying about adopting two baby brothers from Korea, we saw a double rainbow in the sky. We knew it was a sign from Hashem that adopting these two wonderful boys would be a blessing and that He would be with us every step of the way. I can personally attest to this after 35 years. My sons have blessed us and others in many special ways. 

Think about what this special covenant that Hashem made with Noah means to you. Bring what happened thousands of years ago to our present day. What have we learned?

Today’s Challenge:

Have you ever made an agreement with Hashem? Did you ever say to Him, “G-d if you give me this or if you do this, then I promise I will never -------- again.” Try to remember the time(s) you did this. And if you haven’t held fast to your agreement with Him, I would suggest you get on your knees and repent. And make it right. We should not take our commitments lightly.

Noach - Day #4

Noach נֹחַ - Rest  

Torah Portion: Genesis 6:9-11:32        

Genesis 8:15–9:7  

8:15 Elohim spoke to Noah, saying, 16 “Go out of the ship, you, your wife, your sons, and your sons’ wives with you. 17 Bring out with you every living thing that is with you of all flesh, including birds, livestock, and every creeping thing that creeps on the earth, that they may breed abundantly in the earth, and be fruitful, and multiply on the earth.”

18 Noah went out with his sons, his wife, and his sons’ wives with him. 19 Every animal, every creeping thing, and every bird, whatever moves on the earth, after their families, went out of the ship.

20 Noah built an altar to Hashem, and took one of every clean animal, and of every clean bird, and offered burnt offerings on the altar. 21 Hashem smelled the pleasant aroma. Hashem said in His heart, “I will not again curse the ground anymore for man’s sake, because the imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth. I will never again strike every living thing, as I have done. 22 While the earth remains, seed time and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night will not cease.”

9 Elohim blessed Noah and his sons, and said to them, “Be fruitful, multiply, and replenish the earth. 2 The fear of you and the dread of you will be on every animal of the earth, and on every bird of the sky. Everything that moves along the ground, and all the fish of the sea, are delivered into your hand. 3 Every moving thing that lives will be food for you. As I gave you the green herb, I have given everything to you. 4 But flesh with its life, that is, its blood, you shall not eat. 5 I will surely require accounting for your life’s blood. At the hand of every animal I will require it. At the hand of man, even at the hand of every man’s brother, I will require the life of man. 6 Whoever sheds man’s blood, his blood will be shed by man, for Elohim made man in His own image. 7 Be fruitful and multiply. Increase abundantly in the earth, and multiply in it.”

Today’s Meditation: 

A common thread throughout the first nine chapters of Genesis is “be fruitful and multiply” (verse 9:1). Many believe this is the first commandment that Hashem gives man. It is considered the “great Mitzvah,” meaning the greatest commandment. What is truly interesting is that in the Talmud, it is believed that when every soul from heaven is delivered to the earth, the Mashiach (Messiah) will come. That is genuinely an interesting thought.

This is an area that each of us really needs to give prayerful consideration. Do we allow Hashem to dictate how many children we have, or do we do things (birth control, abortion, etc.) that inhibit His plans? Think of the souls that Hashem has placed into His creation that were interrupted by our selfishness and family planning ideas. This is something to pause and pray about for a moment.

Today’s Challenge:

Do some research today on the forms of birth control available. Look at what they actually do. Do they prohibit and destroy a fertilized egg from implanting into the uterus? If so, then is birth control actually destroying conception, a created being? You may be surprised by what you discover.

Noach - Day #3

Noach נֹחַ - Rest  

Torah Portion: Genesis 6:9-11:32

             

Genesis 7:17–8:14

7:17 The flood was forty days on the earth. The waters increased, and lifted up the ship, and it was lifted up above the earth. 18 The waters rose, and increased greatly on the earth; and the ship floated on the surface of the waters. 19 The waters rose very high on the earth. All the high mountains that were under the whole sky were covered. 20 The waters rose fifteen cubits higher, and the mountains were covered. 21 All flesh died that moved on the earth, including birds, livestock, animals, every creeping thing that creeps on the earth, and every man. 22 All on the dry land, in whose nostrils was the breath of the spirit of life, died. 23 Every living thing was destroyed that was on the surface of the ground, including man, livestock, creeping things, and birds of the sky. They were destroyed from the earth. Only Noah was left, and those who were with him on the ship. 24 The waters flooded the earth for one hundred fifty days.

8 Elohim remembered Noah, all the animals, and all the livestock that were with him in the ship; and Elohim made a wind to pass over the earth. The waters subsided. 2 The deep’s fountains and the sky’s windows were also stopped, and the rain from the sky was restrained. 3 The waters continually receded from the earth. After the end of one hundred fifty days, the waters receded. 4 The ship rested in the seventh month, on the seventeenth day of the month, on Ararat’s mountains. 5 The waters receded continually until the tenth month. In the tenth month, on the first day of the month, the tops of the mountains were visible.

6 At the end of forty days, Noah opened the window of the ship which he had made, 7 and he sent out a raven. It went back and forth until the waters were dried up from the earth. 8 He himself sent out a dove to see if the waters were abated from the surface of the ground, 9 but the dove found no place to rest her foot, and she returned into the ship to him, for the waters were on the surface of the whole earth. He put out his hand, and took her, and brought her to him into the ship. 10 He waited yet another seven days, and again he sent the dove out of the ship. 11 The dove came back to him at evening and, behold, in her mouth was a freshly plucked olive leaf. So Noah knew that the waters had abated from the earth. 12 He waited yet another seven days and sent out the dove; and she didn’t return to him anymore.

13 In the six hundred first year, in the first month, the first day of the month, the waters were dried up from the earth. Noah removed the covering of the ship and looked. He saw that the surface of the ground was dry. 14 In the second month, on the twenty-seventh day of the month, the earth was dry.

Today’s Meditation: 

Water has great significance in the Bible. The flood, the crossing of the Red Sea, the commandments of washing, and the water from the rock. We must also remember that our bodies are composed of approximately 60% water. We just read about how Hashem separated the waters last week. Bottom line: water is a necessary part of our existence. We can’t live without it. 

In today’s reading, Hashem uses water to cleanse the earth, just like when you go into a mikvah before you enter the Temple area. You must be cleansed to enter into the presence of Hashem. So, what do we do today? Some still use mikvahs in synagogues, while others are baptized with water. Meanwhile, some of us consider how we can be cleansed daily through genuine repentance. Whichever way you choose, it is essential to be cleansed from sin and renewed daily by repentance.

Today’s Challenge:

Take some time today to think about active sin in your life. Or even the sin that you have held on to. See if you can find a way to be cleansed of your sin. Come clean before Hashem today.

Noach - Day #2

Noach נֹחַ - Rest  

Torah Portion: Genesis 6:9-11:32

Genesis 7:1–16               

7 Hashem said to Noah, “Come with all of your household into the ship, for I have seen your righteousness before Me in this generation. 2 You shall take seven pairs of every clean animal with you, the male and his female. Of the animals that are not clean, take two: the male and his female. 3 Also of the birds of the sky, seven and seven, male and female, to keep seed alive on the surface of all the earth. 4 In seven days, I will cause it to rain on the earth for forty days and forty nights. I will destroy every living thing that I have made from the surface of the ground.”

5 Noah did everything that Hashem commanded him.

6 Noah was six hundred years old when the flood of waters came on the earth. 7 Noah went into the ship with his sons, his wife, and his sons’ wives, because of the floodwaters. 8 Clean animals, unclean animals, birds, and everything that creeps on the ground 9 went by pairs to Noah into the ship, male and female, as Elohim commanded Noah. 10 After the seven days, the floodwaters came upon the earth. 11 In the six hundredth year of Noah’s life, in the second month, on the seventeenth day of the month, on that day all the fountains of the great deep burst open, and the sky’s windows opened. 12 It rained on the earth forty days and forty nights.

13 In the same day Noah, and Shem, Ham, and Japheth—the sons of Noah—and Noah’s wife and the three wives of his sons with them, entered into the ship— 14 they, and every animal after its kind, all the livestock after their kind, every creeping thing that creeps on the earth after its kind, and every bird after its kind, every bird of every sort. 15 Pairs from all flesh with the breath of life in them went into the ship to Noah. 16 Those who went in went in male and female of all flesh, as Elohim commanded him; then Hashem shut him in.

Today’s Meditation: 

What about the verse, “Entered into the ship”? I have always thought of Noah and his family just walking up the plank behind the animals, silent and willing. But today I had another thought. What if Noah said, “It’s time to get in the boat”? And some of his sons started wailing, “No, I don’t want to! This is crazy!” And what if they resisted? Would Noah try to calm them down and remind them of Hashem’s promises to save them? What if his sons thought, “But what about all our friends? What will they think?” Would peer pressure be extreme on his sons and daughters? What would ultimately bring them into the boat? Would Noah be shouting at them? Ordering them to enter?

What brought them into the boat was obedience. Their father did this extravagant thing. He got instructions from Hashem on how to build a boat, and with the help of his sons and daughters, they built it. It must have been a truly miraculous experience. They must have been overwhelmed when they saw the completed boat and the animals from all over the world entering it. The next step was to obey their father and board the ship. Would you have done that? Would you have left everything behind without hesitation?

Today’s Challenge:

Think today about what you would be willing to give up to “get on the boat” with Hashem? Would you give up everything? You may think you have already done that when you decided to join His Covenant and follow His Commandments. But, really, have you? Take some time to reflect on this.